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Hopefully you're UK based so this will make sense,
If you imagine DGEG/the state are the planning authority and APA are building control. The Parish have raised a case against DGEG's planning permission. If the thing is built and meets the necessary technical requirements, building control (APA) can still award their certificate. The two are independent of each other, and then you can get retrospective planning permission if there was an issue.
So, the hold up for approval of the EIA specifically is the cross border consultation process on APA side.
That's not to say there's nil risk with the parish claim but from what I've seen there's little merit in that.
The parish case is against the state not SAV and shouldn't have any bearing on the approval.
What does effect APA is an ongoing issue with Spain and how the 2 countries review projects in proximity to boundaries. See below link to a Spanish project not too far from Barroso which was on a similar timeline and also still awaiting decision.
https://participa.pt/pt/consulta/projeto-de-exploracao-de-recursos-de-estanho-e-volframio-projeto-em-espanha
This is confirmed as the cause of delay in SAV results RNS;
"The completion of APA’s evaluation has however not been
possible while it awaits the result of a treaty mandated, cross-border consultation process with Spain"
The current work streams, decarbonisation and test work are lining up for completion in June. Conveniently, a meeting on the above issue will be held mid June.
Read between the lines...
Lines June Lines
Q2 2022 Targets per RNS's
1. Finalisation of Ore Variability Test Work Programme (RNS 21/02/22)
a. Ceramic Co-Product Test Work Programme
b. Water Circuits and Treatment
c. Locked Cycle Testing
d. Pilot Plant Testing
2. Decarbonisation Strategy (RNS 03/03/22)
Phase 1: Updating the estimate of the Project's greenhouse gases ('GHG') emissions based on international guidelines, and defining targets for overall GHG reduction
Phase 2: Working with sector specialists in zero-emissions vehicle and equipment manufacturing, automation, and control systems, to define and prioritise the key decarbonising initiatives
Phase 3: Defining the implementation of a decarbonisation roadmap aligned with the overall Project's operational strategy, and designing a stakeholder engagement plan with specific initiatives to involve the main stakeholders across the value chain in the global emissions reduction strategy
To say this was 9 days ago... Bo's either spouting utter b******s about the drill programme or wildly misinformed. Either way it's a very poor show
http://ow.ly/gLJZ50IxWkv
Tesla offtakes; Core Lithium, Piedmont (inc Atlantic?), Liontown Resources. All spodumene producers and PLL/LTR share links to Metso Outotec.
European LiRef members; Savannah Resources, Keliber, European Lithium, Metso Outotec. All Spodumene producers.
There's a whole reddit thread about Tesla and Metso Outotec
https://www.reddit.com/r/StockMarket/comments/lmbhv7/piedmont_lithium_deep_dive_nasdaq_pll_asx_pll/
"If the company is able to expand production beyond 29,400 up to 50,000 by 2028 our blue sky valuation would go up to AUD$7.64 a share" Rodney Hooper - RK Equity, 27/01/22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvBHJaD-QLE
So we have a serial fag packet pumper saying $115 a share and an adviser to EMH who probably knows a lot more than we do saying 'blue sky' valuation is $7.64... in 6 years time...
Give it a rest lol
While I'm feeling generous, another initiative SAV is involved with is EIT Raw Materials LiRef project. The partners include three future lithium production companies (Savannah Resources, Keliber and European Lithium) as well as Aurora Lithium AB, Outotec, FLSmidth, GTK and Luleå University of Technology.
Stay with me...
"Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX:PLL) (OTCMKTS:PDDTF) (FRA:PL4) has kicked off its definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its integrated North Carolina lithium hydroxide operations which will include Metso Outotec’s innovative alkaline pressure leach technology aimed at lowering the carbon footprint and improve economics. " "Shares in Australian junior Piedmont Lithium (ASX: PLL) surged almost 84% on Monday in Sydney after it confirmed it had signed a sales agreement with Tesla to supply the electric vehicle maker with high-purity lithium ore mineral for up to ten years."
"Liontown Resources Ltd says it has awarded a key contract to Metso Outotec for the design, fabrication and delivery of a SAG mill for its flagship Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia." "Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has inked a five-year supply agreement with Australia’s Liontown Resources"
Ana Cabral-Gardner from Sigma Lithium during 5@5 Mines and Money YouTube interview from Sept 29 2020:
“We’re very excited about the pioneering that Tesla and Piedmont (Lithium) are doing because it pushes the industry forward. Typical Tesla it’s the Silicon Valley speed forcing an industry like mining and chemicals, which are typically slow, to kind of move on that speed…so the Outotec route that the Finnish had been trying and playing with for a while, Tesla was like ‘OK I’ll just do it, I’m going to follow that route and I’m just going to do it’…They are actually doing this industry a tremendous tremendous tremendous favor by just charging ahead as always”
Tesla and Outotec are working together... SAV and Outotec are working together... Tesla likes Spodumene...
About 12-18 months ago Thore Sekkens (EBA Program Director) stated SAV would be first Li mine to produce in Europe. The context back then was that SAV would be part of a social acceptance study developing a blueprint of sorts for EU mining.
Now, if you pay attention to DA's language of late i.e. 'Our aim is to develop a template for modern, high-tech mineral production' there seems to be some positive affirmation of that thesis. When looking at the wider state of play in Continental Europe e.g. Rio's issues in Serbia, SAV issues in Portugal etc. it's clear that social acceptance in western society will play a big role.
So, if SAV are nearing the end of the EIA process and were to be announced as Europe's first licensed Li mine you'd want to be very well equipped to deal with the public and political back lash. Step in Mary Jo Jacobi... a global expert in PR and communications.
And how does an American heavy weight come in to play with an EU minnow? Well, my thought on this goes back to Maros Sefcovic (EU Commission/EBA) recent visit to the US where the European Battery Alliance and U.S. Lithium Bridge Alliance announced there collaboration. Have the US sent MJJ to assist Europe's first Li mine? Do they see the benefit of Europe's social acceptance study and the impact this could have on US projects with similar issues? It's a possibility imo.
Remember the EBA are steering the ship, Keith Coughlan (EMH Director) has said as much in previous interviews that he has regular calls with the EBA. They're the ones stitching this together on behalf of the EU and when the Program Director himself (the one running the timeline) makes statements of who will be first, personally, I paid attention.
Not sure how long this will be live but here's a link to APA Dropbox;
https://nbox.apambiente.pt/s/3T2fiNs3re7oAzb?path=%2F
Only had a quick scan but there's emails, letters etc and a folder for Transboundary Impacts. Given the last public comment from APA was, "The Evaluation Committee is continuing to prepare its report, and is still awaiting communication
from Spain, so that it can integrate this information into its report." this could be nailed on evidence that the Espoo Convention element is done and EIA is near completion.
Any help to digest this honey pot would be appreciated, although we could have official news shortly by the looks of it.
EU have started a similar process through a slightly different channel. The below link references the critical raw materials report which is intended to influence the allocation of RRP funding. Bidens war chest is $750 million whereas the RRP fund is €750 billion. The GALP/SAV consortia application as an example was circa €1 billion so even at a notional 10% funding it's easy to see how the funds will be rapidly used up.
https://eitrawmaterials.eu/erma-welcomes-the-newly-adopted-report-on-critical-raw-materials/
Video on here re. Mine optimisation;
https://new.abb.com/mining/mineoptimize
ABB/Northvolt MoU;
https://new.abb.com/news/detail/2121/abb-and-northvolt-partner-for-europes-largest-battery-factory
For me the partnership with ABB / Northvolt now ABB / SAV is significant as that steers toward a common framework. Implementing automated processes by software/tech means they can track the product from source to battery, which has been proposed previously in EBA discussions to create 'premium' lithium products.
Needs some wider understanding this one.
ABB is a member of the European Battery Alliance and has been in partnership with Northvolt since 2017 most recently supplying Skellefteå, NV's Swedish Gigafactory.
Having ABB engineers in the picture now means they can advise on the optimisation of the mine design to reduce operational costs by automation of on site activities.
Brilliant IB, A single word response that has both literal and cynical context.
The day after tomorrow will be cracking on with the state budget. Luckily for SAV EU have given the green light to the Portuguese government to press on with RRP funded initiatives independently.
Mick, not necessarily a 10% acquisition but they are definitely still in talks for offtake. See 1:30:40 of the below which was held after the HoT fell through. GALP/Andy have maintained this position since in other press events too. In support of this the environment minister has stated he wants Portuguese lithium refined in country which would leave Bondalti/Neometals as the only other option at present.
https://youtu.be/x7BJOw1tpiE
VW own a minimum 20% of Nortvolt who in turn have a JV with GALP, Aurora Lithium. "All in all, Volkswagen expects to commission six cell factories in Europe by 2030 together with its partners with a view to safeguarding the ramp-up of electric vehicle production."
https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2021/06/volkswagen-invests-a-further--500-million-in--sustainable-batter.html
In the context of Portugal/Spain I personally consider anything Northvolt related to be linked with VW by default, you don't bite the hand that feeds you! Follow this upstream and you have GALP/SAV deal which is still on the table according to Andy Brown, GALP CEO.
Also the offtake with Vulcan is for hydroxide from geothermal brine not Spodumene. I don't know of any offtakes with EU Li miners to date though I'd expect to see a commitment post EIA approval.